Ethnographic Research
Our project activities kicked off with an in-depth study of the local communities' awareness and understanding of SMDs. Our researchers continue to engage with traditional healers, faith-based healers, and community healthcare workers to unravel the intricacies of who seeks care, how care is administered, and how healers can identify and refer individuals with SMDs for biomedical care.
Co-production
Building on these insights, the TRANSFORM project is designing specialized training packages—one for healers and another for CHWs. These training packages focus on the identification of SMDs, referral processes to local psychiatric services, and the provision of ongoing support for patients aged 18 and above.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The effectiveness of these training programmes will be rigorously evaluated, assessing their impact on increasing referrals and enhancing the provision of community-based mental health care for cases of SMDs. In addition, a cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted to gauge the overall efficiency of the intervention and its outcomes.